WE ought to "Examine" ourselves as Passover nears.
Posted by Veronica Ligteringen on Thursday, April 14, 2011
The New International Version of the Bible has a heading "The Lord's Supper". In this passage Paul describes the ceremony Jesus introduced at Passover when he kept if for the final time with his disciples before he became the sacrificial "lamb" for all mankind. Jesus blessed and broke bread and told the disciples to eat of it, as it represents to them his body, broken on their and our behalf. Likewise he took the cup (of wine - a normal part of the Jewish Passover ceremony) and he also blessed it and shared it among the disciples. This represents his spilt blood of the new covenant, shed on our behalf.
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 Paul reminds the church of the depth of meaning of this ceremony and its relevance to their salvation. Thus said, Paul instructs each member of the church to "examine" themselves. We are to appreciate the Lord's body, which this service symbolises. We are also to judge ourselves, for if we do, we will not come under judgement. If we do not bring our own selves under submission to Christ in all things, Christ judges us and disciplines us. This is so we will not be condemned with the world.
So if we are to examine ourselves what is the measure we are weighed against? Jesus is the perfect man, so perhaps we should attain to His standard. "Be you perfect", he said, "as your Father in Heaven is perfect". This is a high standard indeed. In the context of the 10 commandments, Israel was told to be "Holy" as your Father in Heaven is Holy. We saw that sin is the contravening of the Law, the Holy Law of God. When we approach Passover we are instructed by Paul to throw out the old leaven (leaven was not to be eaten by Israel during the Passover Season) the leaven of malice and wickedness, and to eat of the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. This is to say we must shed our worldly attitudes and take on the character of Jesus. These are the standards we are to consider when we reflect on our own behaviour. Paul also says in 1 Corinthians that Charity or LOVE is the greatest characteristic of Christ we can take on. So please consider the deep meaning of this wonderful ceremony and Festival of Unleavened Bread and ponder on its significance in your life as you put out sin and take on the nature of Christ. Ask our Loving Father to help you to change. We are his work so he will support you as you strive to live a pure and blameless life. God bless you as you seek to please him. Amen.
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 Paul reminds the church of the depth of meaning of this ceremony and its relevance to their salvation. Thus said, Paul instructs each member of the church to "examine" themselves. We are to appreciate the Lord's body, which this service symbolises. We are also to judge ourselves, for if we do, we will not come under judgement. If we do not bring our own selves under submission to Christ in all things, Christ judges us and disciplines us. This is so we will not be condemned with the world.
So if we are to examine ourselves what is the measure we are weighed against? Jesus is the perfect man, so perhaps we should attain to His standard. "Be you perfect", he said, "as your Father in Heaven is perfect". This is a high standard indeed. In the context of the 10 commandments, Israel was told to be "Holy" as your Father in Heaven is Holy. We saw that sin is the contravening of the Law, the Holy Law of God. When we approach Passover we are instructed by Paul to throw out the old leaven (leaven was not to be eaten by Israel during the Passover Season) the leaven of malice and wickedness, and to eat of the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. This is to say we must shed our worldly attitudes and take on the character of Jesus. These are the standards we are to consider when we reflect on our own behaviour. Paul also says in 1 Corinthians that Charity or LOVE is the greatest characteristic of Christ we can take on. So please consider the deep meaning of this wonderful ceremony and Festival of Unleavened Bread and ponder on its significance in your life as you put out sin and take on the nature of Christ. Ask our Loving Father to help you to change. We are his work so he will support you as you strive to live a pure and blameless life. God bless you as you seek to please him. Amen.
